Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITED (CISA KEV)CVE-2016-7255 · Published 10/11/2016 · updated 10/09/2026

Microsoft Win32k Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. Actively exploited: CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 03/11/2021. Patch affected systems as an emergency. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

Package	Affected versions	Patched versions
Win32k Microsoft	Versions not published yet (product named by CISA KEV)

Description

The kernel-mode drivers in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 Gold and R2, Windows RT 8.1, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, and 1607, and Windows Server 2016 allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka "Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

References

blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/one-bit-rule-system-analyzing-cve-2016-7255-exploit-wild · Broken Link
packetstormsecurity.com/files/140468/Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-win32k.sys-NtSetWindowLongPtr-Privilege-Escalation.html · Exploit
securityfocus.com/bid/94064 · Broken Link
securitytracker.com/id/1037251 · Broken Link
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-135 · Patch
mwrlabs/CVE-2016-7255 · Exploit
securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/digging-windows-kernel-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-cve-2016-7255 · Broken Link
security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html · Third Party Advisory
exploit-db.com/exploits/40745 · Exploit
exploit-db.com/exploits/40823 · Exploit
exploit-db.com/exploits/41015 · Exploit
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog · US Government Resource
CISA KEV · CVE-2016-7255

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